Student takes on ‘crazy’ bush run

A fitness student who took on one of New Zealand’s most challenging bush runs says the “crazy” experience was worth it after he finished fifth in his division.

Twenty-year-old Bay of Plenty Polytech student Mark Gordon  was one of the first in his class to run the Goat Goes Bush trail.

More than 300 competitors took on the challenging bush track through the Kaimai Range in an event that challenges even the best runners, Gordon says.

“It involves running from the Wairere Falls on the Waikato side (the North Island’s highest waterfall) to Aongatete Lodge on the Bay of Plenty side (halfway between Katikati and Bethlehem).

“It’s 17 kilometres of bush, from a near vertical run up the side of the Wairere Falls to river crossings, stream crossing, thick mud, logs and fallen trees and tree roots that would trip up even the most technical runner to minimal visibility of the track due to thick bush.”

The original event through Tongariro, a rough volcanic mountain trail, has become so popular the Goat Adventure Run organisers decided it was time to add another event like it through the Kaimais.

Gordon entered the event after a tutor inspired him.

“I decided to enter the run as my tutor from the Bay of Plenty Polytech Kelly Pender is a regular goat runner. He talked about it in the weeks leading up to the event and how awesome it was, how challenging and the sense of achievement you get when crossing the finish line.

“As I had never done anything that was crazy I thought this was the perfect opportunity to put my body and mental ability to the test,” Gordon said.

The competitors were great at encouraging one another, he said.

“The competitors on this event were all amazing, from the non-competitors who would move to the side and clap you past with words of encouragement to the more competitive ones who would still be able to say awesome work or well done as they let you past.”

The course challenged him, pushing his body to its limit but seeing his family cheering at the finish line made it all worth it, Gordon said.

“I came to about my 14k mark, my back was aching from my camel pack. My knees were getting tired from jumping over logs and occasionally falling over or down a bank. My body could have easily stopped and walked the rest of the way but my mind wouldn’t let it.”

Coming in fifth in the ‘young goat’ division and 62nd overall Gordon is proud of his achievement.

“It was just amazing to know I had completed the most technical running event in New Zealand.”